Mike McCarthy sticking with Alex Green

Green rushed for just 54 yards on 22 carries during the Packers’ 24-15 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday. Despite getting 20-plus carries in each of his three starts, Green has yet to rush for more than 65 yards in a game. Green is averaging just 2.4 yards per carry in his three starts.

“[Starks] will probably be given more opportunities as we go through the week, but there are a number of different factors that are involved with that and the biggest one is Alex Green has earned these opportunities,” McCarthy said.

Green took over the starting role when Cedric Benson was placed on injured reserve due to a foot sprain following the Packers Week Five loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Benson received the “designated to return” tag and is eligible to return for Green Bay’s Week 14 game against the Detroit Lions.

Until then it appears as though Green will continue to have opportunities to make an impact in the Packers’ backfield.

The Alex Green pick was very puzzling to many when it was made. I mean a 3rd rounder on a guy from Hawaii? I never got it and still don’t. I don’t get why teams try to get cute when drafting running backs, just get a guy who played at a major college. That’s the safest bet, Green Bay probably thought they were getting a Ray Rice and instead they got a dud.

Mike always does this. In 2007 he goofed around with the lethal combo of Brandon Jackson and DeShawn Wynn for half the season before going with Ryan Grant.

In 2010 he stuck with Brandon Jackson even after Starks had a good game late in the season, and then started Starks in the playoffs.

The thing I don’t like with Green is that he seems like a home run or nothing guy. If he gets in open space he has the speed to take it 80 yards…however every other play he is getting a yard or yard and a half less than he should.

Starks I have a feeling is in the dog house or something. I know he has trouble staying healthy as well.

Cobb is kind of a slash player like Percy Harvin, the Packers could get away with putting Cobb in the backfield if Jennings and Nelson was healthy, but right now he is way too neccesary and more effective at WR.

starks will get more yards, he’s not afraid to pound the rock for 3-4. green wants to make the big play all the time. need edgar bennet back from receivers to running back coach!

jerrykill4pres says:Oct 31, 2012 7:26 AM

shaggytoodle says:Oct 31, 2012 1:21 AM

Starks I have a feeling is in the dog house or something. I know he has trouble staying healthy as well.

Cobb is kind of a slash player like Percy Harvin, the Packers could get away with putting Cobb in the backfield if Jennings and Nelson was healthy, but right now he is way too neccesary and more effective at WR.
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Cobb is nothing close to Percy Harvin. Cobb is way to small to take the abuse Percy takes. Cobb is an explosive player, but i’d never consider him close to Percy. Percy is dangerous from every spot on the field. Cobb is in my opinion an underrated return man. (he can house it anytime just like Percy or Hester) and Cobb is a good reciever. Just has been overshadowed by Jennings, and Nelson. They get all of the attention. And with those two drawing all of the attention, makes it easier for Cobb to be noticed. But he would never be near as dangerous from the backfield as Percy is. You already know Percy is going to get the ball, but how do you stop him. Those dumb looking bubble screens, you know they are coming, but just can’t stop Percy on them. You can key on Percy, and he still get’s his. But other than Peterson, that’s all the Vikings have. Ponder has a hard time throwing more than 4 yards down field. So Percy get’s all his yards after catch, or running the ball. You play GB, and can stop Cobb.. Problem is, Rodgers is so darn good, he will find 4 other people to destroy your defense.

caliksworld says:Oct 31, 2012 8:44 AM

What in the world did Starks do to end up in the dog house for this long? Gotta be more than just not staying healthy because half their team has trouble staying healthy on a good day.

packfan429 says:Oct 31, 2012 9:08 AM

3 strikes and ur out… it’s only been 2 for Green.

Green shows explosiveness which Starks doesn’t have.

Why is Cobb being mentioned, he’s not a RB!

dukemarc says:Oct 31, 2012 11:11 AM

I have more of a problem with the way they are trying to run with Alex than the fact they are sticking with him.

Green is a edge or draw style running back. He caught 60 passes a year when he was at Hawaii – that’s how he needs to be used in this offense.

Let Starks and Kuhn(when he’s healthy) run it between the tackles.

skittlesareyum says:Oct 31, 2012 11:37 AM

Why does McCarthy’s running back decisions always seem like something out of a political thriller?

“[Starks] will probably be given more opportunities as we go through the week, but there are a number of different factors that are involved with that and the biggest one is Alex Green has earned these opportunities”

“Earned these opportunities”? What does that even mean? Shouldn’t you be playing the player who you think will do the best? If that’s Green, so be it, but his statement sounds kind of like “Starks is better, but he pisses me off”.

brewdogg says:Oct 31, 2012 12:10 PM

@ velvetglove

Really? Did you watch the Jax game? Ponder threw for more than the Packers gained all game against this team. Now that we know Jennings is down for a while, this team is one injured WR away from not making the playoffs if they can’t figure out how to run the ball.

y2kfxdwg says:Oct 31, 2012 12:11 PM

Starks has been in the dog house 90% of the time due to poor practice habits. 2 years ago he got better so played in the playoffs but hasn’t practiced hard since the lockout. That’s the message McCarty is sending when he says Green has earned the start because Starks hasn’t earned time in practice. Starks also doesn’t play special teams. He will be gone next year for both those reasons, too valuable of a roster spot.

All I said he was a slash player like Harvin, he can run out of the backfield, the Packers do try to get him in open space so he can make a play. There blocking schemes aren’t always as effective.

As far as talent wise goes though, Harvin better have him beat hands down, otherwords the Vikings drafted him way to early at 22.

Also Cobb is just halfway through his 2nd season and he is starting to show progression quite well. I think one of his better traits is when a play breaks down, and Rodgers starts to scramble. I think a wonderful job getting open and working back towards the QB.

thevelvetglove says:
Oct 31, 2012 3:15 AM
“Rodgers starts throwing the ball all the time, the Packers start to look dominant and they care about running the ball?”
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Probably because it’s easier for Rodgers to pass the football when the defense isn’t coming at him a 100 miles per hour every time.

example; 1st half vs seattle/2nd half vs the colts.
Especially vs the colts – their garbage run D couldn’t stop Shonn Greene – yet we don’t even attempt to run on ’em in the 2nd half … all those quick 3 & outs and people want to blame the defense and have Dom fired…. smh.

randallflagg52 says:
Oct 30, 2012 11:45 PM
“Mike McCarthy looking for new job”
There I fixed it for you.
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If anyone gets fired from the Packers – it’ll be the guy that keeps luring our players under a ladder before the season starts…
all of these injuries man…. smh.

Mike Mccarthy sat back an watched the free agent market like a fan at home… knowing he didnt have a running back… or a LT an he could use a corner back. but instead of going after some players he said NEXT MAN UP. an hes been saying that every week while the packers get worse

Can someone please get Green a new pair of cleats? He’s always tripping and slipping on nothing. The commentator in the Jacksonville game said Green tripped on the lineman (I think it was near the redzone) but if they showed a better replay, Green tripped INTO the lineman, not on. He gets too anxoius or something every time his number is called.

tangysizzl says:Oct 31, 2012 8:29 PM

Alex Green is still getting his legs back under him as he recovers from his torn ACL late last year. Unlike the amazing Adrian Peterson ACL injuries usually take a while to get back to full speed.

Still if this team ever wants to be a good running team they need to scrap the stupid zone blocking scheme. Our OLine isn’t quick enough to run it effectively, go back to the tried and true method of assignment blocking. Hat on a hat.

Maybe its time for GB to hire a run game coordinator or something because whoever is making those decisions now needs some help.